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March 2017 Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram
Customer Connection
In This Newsletter
No gates or some gates?
VIDEO: Big rig removed
Starbucks winner named
You too can win!
Meatballs coming soon
The Ohio Turnpike - A Better Way To Travel®

Survey shows support for removing some or all gates at toll booths

A survey conducted last fall of E-ZPass customers, AAA members and other stakeholders revealed that 89 to 93 percent support removing all or some gates at Ohio Turnpike toll booths.

Support for removing the gates decreases when respondents were asked if they would still support removing the gates if tolls were increased, with 34 percent who “might support,” 31 percent who “would support” and 34 percent who “would NOT support.”

The consultants and management team have developed a list of alternatives for further study. 
  • Conventional Toll Plazas with Gates (no change)
  • Conventional Toll Plazas with low speed gateless E-ZPass lanes
  • Conventional Tolls Plazas with higher speed gateless E-ZPass lanes
  • Conventional Toll Plazas with highway speed gateless E-ZPass lanes
  • Free-Flow Cashless Tolling Lanes
Other options involve blending characteristics of the above alternatives in order to improve the customer travel experience. Look for more updates in future editions of Customer Connection.​
 

Randy Cole
Executive Director

VIDEO: Disabled big rig safely removed from ditch

The Ohio Turnpike's Disabled Vehicle Service operators provide service 24 hours a day, seven days a week to keep customers moving and to remove disabled or wrecked commercial vehicles from the side of the road.

Customer Connection recently captured one of the heavy duty rotator-type tow trucks in action owned by Rich's Towing, an Ohio Turnpike provider.
Watch the brief video below.

AAA makes getting E-ZPass easier at 31 locations

AAA East Central and AAA Akron are now offering E-ZPass transponders to their members and customers at 31 Ohio stores throughout 24 counties.
 
In its first seven years of operation on the Ohio Turnpike, E-ZPass saved its customers more than $300 million compared to customers who paid cash over the same period. The number of overall users and vehicle miles traveled with E-ZPass has increased steadily since the program began on the Ohio Turnpike in 2009. 
 
“In a continued effort to be responsive to our customers, we are making it easier than ever to acquire an E-ZPass transponder by adding AAA East Central and AAA Akron as retail partners,” said Ohio Turnpike Executive Director Randy Cole. “AAA is a highly respected brand name in auto travel and we are thrilled to partner with them.” See all retail locations.
 

@OHTurnpikeGuy Starbucks Gift Card winner is ...

Our first $15 Starbucks Gift Card winner is Rosemarie Ascherl of Cleveland.

She was randomly chosen to win as she's one of the many Twitter users who followed @OHTurnpikeGuy following publication of last month's edition of Customer Connection

Congratulations, Rosemarie!

R. Ascherl
Winner!

You too can win: Just follow @OHTurnpikeGuy

Curious about the latest customer service and safety trends or technology as it pertains to the future of mobility? Want a chance to win a $15 Starbucks Gift Card like Rosemarie Ascherl?

Then be sure to follow OH Turnpike Director Randy Cole, aka @OHTurnpikeGuy, on Twitter. We'll enter your into a random drawing. The winner will be announced in April.

He'll point you to all of the latest trends in transportation, including self-driving cars and trucks, intelligent transportation systems, drones, connected vehicles, artificial intelligence, customer service and more!

Below is a sample tweet ....

Randy Cole
@OHTurnpikeGuy

April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month

From April 6 to April 10, the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) will be out in force looking for distracted drivers as part of the U Drive. U Text. U Pay. campaign.

It's a high-visibility effort of the OSHP and Ohio Turnpike to discourage dangerous distracted driving behavior behind the wheel.

“Everyone knows texting and driving is illegal and dangerous, and everyone knows they shouldn’t be doing it—but we see it happen all the time,” said Staff Lt. Travis Hughes, Ohio Turnpike Liaison.

“Beginning April 6th, you will see stepped-up law enforcement efforts. Officers will be stopping and ticketing anyone who violates the law while texting and driving."

According to NHTSA, 3,477 people were killed and an estimated 391,000 injured in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers in 2015. This is a 9-percent increase in fatalities as compared to the previous year. 

 

Customer Appreciation Event at Mahoning Valley Service Plaza on April 7

Customers are invited to join us at the Mahoning Valley Service Plaza on April 7. 

  • Featured will be Distracted Driving and Work Zone Awareness.
  • Sunoco Gift Cards will be given to lucky winners.
  • Panera Bread will offer samples.
  • A Distracted Driving Simulator will be available for live behind-the-wheel demonstrations.

Meatball Obsession coming soon to Vermilion Valley 

Meatball Obsession, a New York company, is coming soon to the Vermilion Valley Service Plaza's food court. The company was "born and braised in Brooklyn" and will offer initially its beef, turkey and pork meatballs in a cup as well as sandwiches.

The company’s roots go back to founder Dan Mancini’s grandmother when in 1921, she came to America with a steamer trunk and a heart full of family recipes from Italy.
 

Sunoco Fueling Stations at Brady's Leap and Portage Service Plazas are closing for renovations on April 2

Beginning on Sunday, April 2 at 7:00 a.m., until approximately June 30, the Sunoco fueling stations located at Brady's Leap and Portage Service Plazas will be closing for scheduled renovations.

There will be no gasoline or diesel service at either plaza during this renovation. Brady's Leap and Portage Service Plazas will remain open for food, restrooms and other amenities during this construction. All Sunoco fueling stations at the other service plazas along the Ohio Turnpike will be open.

Slow Down & Move Over for ALL roadside workers. If you don’t you might see Ohio State Highway Patrol behind you!

Stay Informed in Real Time: Follow us on FB and Twitter

Stay informed on changing traffic patterns due to accidents, work zones and construction delays,
E-ZPass® updates and other Turnpike news by following us on Twitter and Facebook.

Copyright © 2017 Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you have a past relationship with the
Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission.

Published by the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission,
Randy Cole, Executive Director
Adam Greenslade, Director of Government Affairs, Marketing and Communications
Questions or suggestions? Contact Brian Newbacher, Editor, brian.newbacher@ohioturnpike.org.

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Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission
682 Prospect Street
Berea, OH 44017
440-234-2081

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